Manufacture of sodium alloys.



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EDMUND CHARLES ROSSITER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRITISH CYANIDES COMPANY, LIMITED, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND.

MANUFACTURE OF SODIUM ALLOYS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDMUND CHARLES RossrrER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 4: Park road, West Smethwick, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium Alloys, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce sodium alloys, especially sodium lead alloy.

According to this invention an alloy of sodium is manufactured by heatin caustic soda with carbon or a carbon yielding compound and agitating the metallic sod1um as it is produced or in the nascent state with molten metal; the temperature need never rise above 750 C. during the whole process.

The molten metal is preferably present during the reduction of the caustic soda but it may be poured in after.

The production of sodium lead alloy is for example effected as follows :5 cwt. of sodium hydrate is fused in a covered pot, fitted with an agitator, and so arranged that dry coal gas or other suitable gas can be passed into it. 4.- to 6 cwt. of lead is added and the pot is heated at 600 to 700 C. in a slow current of gas until all moisture is driven ofi. 60 lbs. of dry carbon in the form of wood charcoal or other convenient form is then gradually added. A vigorous evolution of gas takes lace and the mixture is agitated to cause t e lead to alloy with the sodium as it is formed. The reaction is allowed to continue at about 750 C. until the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 21, 1913.

Patented Sept. 16,1913.

Serial No. 749,898.

evolution of gas becomes less vigorous. The contents of the pot are then sodium lead alloy at the bottom and above it a semi-fused layer consisting chiefly of sodium carbonate. The alloy is separated in any convenient manner and the sodium carbonate is reconverted into hydrate and may be again used.

Alternatively and preferably the lead is melted in a covered pot fitted with an agitator, and the sodium hydrate previously heated in an open pot to the required temperature to drive off any water, may be poured into the pot containing the lead together with the carbon, or the carbon may be added first and the sodium hydrate afterward or a small quantity of each may be added alternately until the alloy contains the required quantity of sodium.

Any other suitable metal which forms alloys with sodium may be employed in place of lead.

I claim':

1. A rocess for the manufacture of sodium a1 oys, which consists of heating together a mixture of sodium hydrate, carbon and a metal, and agitating the mixture while thus heated.

2. A process for the manufacture of sodium alloys which consists of heating sodium hydrate, pouring it together with powdered carbon into molten lead and stirring the mixture.

EDMUND CHARLES ROSSITER.

Witnesses:

KENNETH M. CHANCE, JOHN H. Wm'mrrmn. 

